Democrat Gina Hinojosa Elected First Latina Texas Governor

Democrat Gina Hinojosa won the Texas governor’s race on Tuesday and will become the first Latina to hold the office. Her victory ended Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s bid for a historic fourth term.

With 69 percent of votes counted late Tuesday, Hinojosa led Abbott 56.7 percent to 42 percent among more than 7 million ballots. The contest was widely seen as a referendum on President Trump, given Abbott’s close ties to the White House and his border policies.

“Abbott had pledged at the start of the political season that he would turn Harris County not only “red,” but “dark red.””

Education shaped much of the campaign. Abbott’s third term saw him push through a school-voucher initiative after removing Republican legislators who opposed him. Hinojosa’s supporters say she plans to fire Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and Houston ISD Superintendent Mike Miles once in office.

Abbott had called Hinojosa a “radical leftist,” while she criticized his ties to Elon Musk, his data-center initiatives, and rising property taxes. Abbott had also vowed to turn Harris County “dark red,” a goal that did not materialize.

Before entering politics, Hinojosa worked as a civil rights and union lawyer. She joined the Austin ISD school board in 2012 and won a seat in the Texas House in 2016.